MT Khan is a well-known personality of English and Urdu journalism besides being a dynamic personality of communist party. He dedicated his entire life for party and journalism. He was earlier associated with the English newspaper ‘Newstime’ of Eenadu group later he joined Siasat daily. During the Nizam’s rule he joined the movement against autocratic rule. He took part in the movements of the party and also went to jail. He was born in 1935. His family lived near the historical Puranapul darwaza for nearly 300 years. The following excerpt is from the conversation with MT Khan.
My grandfather Imamuddin Khan arrived in Hyderabad from the frontier area via Karnataka. He was a mercenary soldier. My grandfather settled in the house near Puranapul darwaza which is popularly known as Khan Saheb’s house.
City College then used to be a high school. I took admission in it. An Andhrite teacher Raghuvachari used to teach us English. My full name was Mohammed Tajuddin Khan; it was very difficult for him to pronounce my name so he started calling me with initials M T Khan.
At that time there was no religious distinction in Hyderabad. It was a very peaceful phase. Festivals of all religions were celebrated unitedly. Especially Eidain and Deepavali and Dassehra were celebrated together. Hindus too would join the mourning of Moharram. My family was the mutavalli of a dargah. But was not extreme in the matter of religion. Hindus and Muslims both lived in harmony in the area. There was no hatred among believers of different religions. With Indian independence riots occurred at several places of the country because of partition. The muhajirs of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh arrived at Hyderabad. No riot broke out in Hyderabad. Although later thousands of people suffered due to riots in the regions of Marhatwada and Karnataka of Hyderabad state, but Hyderabad city remained safe from the evil of violence.
There were only two economic classes at that time, rich and poor, middle class was not fully developed. A relative of P Lakhshmidas resident of Chawninadelibaig used to reside in our locality. He belonged to communist party. He was under the strict surveillance of police. He had secretly arrived here. Communist party leader Ramchander was my neighbor. Later he became leader of labour organization. I met him. It was not an easy task to get party membership at that time. It needed to work as a party supporter for years and then membership was given. I was also given membership after practically working for the party for years. Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan was popularly known among the public as one of the richest rulers but I sighted him as a very different personality. He always wore simple dress. Though he travel in cars but wore an ordinary rubber slipper. He used to come at Makkah Masjid in Sherwani and pajama. He arrived at Khilwat the area behind Makkah masjid amidst the fleet of his cars. His life-style did not change even after Hyderabad merger in Indian union. King Kothi always had a curtain over the gate. The curtain was lifted at the time when his vehicle was about to come out. I have seen standing from afar that a servant used to make him wear rubber slipper.
When trade unions emerged in Hyderabad, communist leader and poet, Makhdoom Mohiuddin joined trade union movements. He was earlier a teacher in City College, later he resigned from the service and joined communist party.
I appeared and passed matric exam in 1948. Studied intermediate from VV College and took admission in B.A from Osmania University. But could not complete education. I started working as a salesman in a book house. The manager of the book house was Mirza Hyder Hasan, who was also a communist. Later Hyder Hasan sahib worked in Siasat daily as a feature writer. At that time the book house manager used to receive Rs 500 and I received Rs. 250 as salary. I worked here for nearly 6 years and then actively engaged myself in party activities. Later I joined English daily Newstime. When I was working for the party, independence movement in Goa gained momentum. Goa liberation movement was active in Hyderabad. Some youth were asked by the committee to join satyagrah for Goa liberation we had to cross a small river to enter into Goa we were arrested during this.
Press was totally free at that time. It was not influenced by any political ideology or party. Urdu journalism was very popular at that time. The Siasat Daily gained important position in Urdu journalism. The newspapers were totally unbiased; public opinion was given importance.
The revolutions took place in Hyderabad were of superficial and political in nature. Though the movements worked to a certain extent but those movements failed to bring a revolution. Revolution in precise sense of the word did not take place. The change that we dreamt of did not occur. There were several objectives like economic prosperity, elimination poverty and destitution, education and employment opportunities, equality, which remained unaccomplished. Situations tend to change, time never remains constant therefore living in the present one should try for the betterment of future.
M F Saleem